A?STRONG pound is vital for the French market stallholders who travel across the channel each week to sell their produce on our shores.

So fears about its weakening should Britain cast a ‘Leave’ vote were voiced by those selling everything from onions and garlic to cashmere and CDs at the French Market in Petersfield last week.

The stallholders mostly thought it was right that the country should be asked its opinion on whether to stay or go, as this was unlikely to happen in France, but they were worried about their businesses.

“I?am worried about the exchange rate system,” said Pascal Creach (53), of Brittany. “I have to buy a lot of goods in Euros and if the pound is not so strong, that would be a big problem.”

He felt the vote for leaving the European Union was tied to the UK Independence Party but the good thing was that this was not as strong as the National Front was in France.

“It’s always all about the pound,” said Isabelle Renault (55), from Normandy. “I think the EU?has been good. It’s good too to ask the British people what they think. I would like that to happen in France.”

Gilles Haumont, (51) from Normandy, said it was “ridiculous” to be holding a referendum. “I believe it is about racism really. I do think ‘Remain’ will win though. When it comes to the crunch people will come to their senses.

“I don’t sympathise with the need for a referendum at all. I think it is ridiculous. Personally I think the EU?is such a good thing in helping to keep the peace since the 1940s. But I?think it will go like the Scottish referendum did and and people will vote to remain.”

And Oliver Roussel (46) felt the referendum was “stopping the economy”. “We are stronger together but there are maybe too many countries in the EU now.”

Dominique Rioult (62), of Normandy, believed the pound would start plummeting “within days”.

After 23 years of selling his meat products in England he was coming up to retirement though so was not that worried now.